McClatchy, one of the largest US press groups, is to erect paywalls on all its newspaper websites.

The publisher of 30 dailies, including the Miami Herald, Fort Worth Star-Telegram and Kansas City Star, will introduce the metered access model.

McClatchy president and chief executive Pat Talamantes said: "We will offer readers a combined print and digital subscription package that will include access to web, certain mobile and replica editions for a relatively small increase to print home-delivery rates.

"We'll also offer online-only digital subscriptions to users after they read a certain number of pages. Once the first wave is launched, we intend to expand this model to our other markets beginning in the fourth quarter of this year."

It confirms his pledge to shareholders in May when Talamantes said the company was involved in an "ongoing search for that sweet spot – trying to capture additional subscription revenues without harming traffic or advertising revenues."

Gannett, the largest US newspaper chain, has also started the process towards charging for online access at its dailies, as has the MediaNews Group.